Specialist advice TECH
(modified)
Providing authoritative, professional advice and direction in a specialist area.
SFIA 9 is in development
- SFIA 9 beta due in early July 2024
- SFIA 9 planned for publication October 2024
This is a prototype for SFIA 9. It is subject to change before publication.
Guidance notes
(modified)
This skill entails developing and using specialist knowledge to offer authoritative advice and direction, distinct from general guidance or troubleshooting.
Professional advice is the provision of expert, objective, and evidence-based recommendations, guidance, and solutions to address specific challenges or opportunities, drawing upon the advisor's in-depth knowledge, skills, and experience.
Expertise may cover a particular aspect of information or communications technology, digital practices, methodologies, or application areas, and can extend to applying knowledge from other disciplines, such as legal, finance, public relations, ethics or human resources, to technology-related topics.
Activities include, but are not limited to:
- research and analysis to stay current with the latest developments in the specialist area
- providing subject matter expert advice and recommendations based on thorough understanding of the subject
- collaborating with other specialists to ensure comprehensive and cohesive advice
- clearly communicating complex information to non-experts
- creating guidelines, standards, and best practices related to the specialist area
- providing mentorship and guidance to support the development of specialist knowledge within the organisation
Understanding the responsibility levels of this skill
Where lower levels are not defined...
- Specific tasks and responsibilities are not defined because the skill requires a higher level of autonomy, influence, and complexity in decision-making than is typically expected at these levels. You can use the essence statements to understand the generic responsibilities associated with these levels.
Where higher levels are not defined...
- Responsibilities and accountabilities are not defined because these higher levels involve strategic leadership and broader organisational influence that goes beyond the scope of this specific skill. See the essence statements.
Developing skills and demonstrating responsibilities related to this skill
The defined levels show the incremental progression in skills and reponsibilities.
Where lower levels are not defined...
You can develop your knowledge and support others who do have responsibility in this area by:
- Learning key concepts and principles related to this skill and its impact on your role
- Performing related skills (see the related SFIA skills)
- Supporting others with tasks (generic examples are provided by the essence statements for each level)
Where higher levels are not defined...
- You can progress by developing related skills which are better suited to higher levels of organisational leadership.
Levels
Defined at these levels: | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Click to learn why SFIA skills are not defined at all 7 levels.
Show/hide extra descriptions and levels.
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Specialist advice: Level 4
(modified)
Provides detailed and specific advice to support the organisation's planning and operations, typically related to the immediate area of responsibility.
Actively maintains recognised expert level knowledge in one or more identifiable specialisms.
Recognises and identifies the boundaries of their own specialist knowledge.
Where appropriate, collaborates with other specialists to ensure advice given is professionally sound and appropriate to the organisation's needs.
Specialist advice: Level 5
(modified)
Provides professional advice that informs operational leadership and influences the translation of strategy into operations in their specialist area.
Oversees the provision of specialist advice by others. Consolidates expertise from multiple sources, including third-party experts, to provide coherent and professionally sound advice to further organisational objectives.
Supports and promotes the development and sharing of specialist knowledge within the organisation.
Specialist advice: Level 6
(modified)
Leads and promotes the development and application of specialist knowledge across the organisation, delivering professional advice that shapes direction and high-level decisions.
Maintains a network of recognised experts (inside and/or outside the organisation) who can deliver expert advice in relevant areas.
Actively influences professional development planning across a significant part of the organisation to further the development of appropriate expertise and provision of high-quality professional advice.